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24/02/2005
NI set for 100% broadband access
Northern Ireland is on track to provide broadband access to every household and business by the end of 2005, Enterprise Minister Barry Gardiner announced today.
The news comes after it was confirmed that all of the 191 BT telephone exchanges throughout Northern Ireland have been upgraded to provide broadband services.
Northern Ireland is now the first region of the UK outside London to have all its exchanges upgraded, providing 98.5% of the population with access to broadband.
Mr Gardiner said: “Northern Ireland now has a first-class telecommunications infrastructure, allowing our businesses to compete in the global marketplace and enabling all citizens to make full use of the possibilities of the internet.
“Our goal now is to become the first region in Europe with 100% broadband access. Therefore, over coming months, BT will focus on providing wireless broadband infrastructure to the remaining 1.5% of the population that cannot access broadband via the existing BT exchanges.
“Demand for broadband in Northern Ireland has also increased dramatically. In just 12 months, Northern Ireland has moved from having one of the lowest levels of broadband uptake in the UK to becoming the fastest growing area. The latest industry figures show 150,000 broadband users, and demand is still growing.”
The infrastructure is being developed by BT under the DETI contract to deliver broadband services to 100% of Northern Ireland by the end of 2005, funded by the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.
Over 200 internet service providers and other companies will be able to use the upgraded BT infrastructure to deliver broadband services to customers in Northern Ireland.
(MB/SP)
The news comes after it was confirmed that all of the 191 BT telephone exchanges throughout Northern Ireland have been upgraded to provide broadband services.
Northern Ireland is now the first region of the UK outside London to have all its exchanges upgraded, providing 98.5% of the population with access to broadband.
Mr Gardiner said: “Northern Ireland now has a first-class telecommunications infrastructure, allowing our businesses to compete in the global marketplace and enabling all citizens to make full use of the possibilities of the internet.
“Our goal now is to become the first region in Europe with 100% broadband access. Therefore, over coming months, BT will focus on providing wireless broadband infrastructure to the remaining 1.5% of the population that cannot access broadband via the existing BT exchanges.
“Demand for broadband in Northern Ireland has also increased dramatically. In just 12 months, Northern Ireland has moved from having one of the lowest levels of broadband uptake in the UK to becoming the fastest growing area. The latest industry figures show 150,000 broadband users, and demand is still growing.”
The infrastructure is being developed by BT under the DETI contract to deliver broadband services to 100% of Northern Ireland by the end of 2005, funded by the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme.
Over 200 internet service providers and other companies will be able to use the upgraded BT infrastructure to deliver broadband services to customers in Northern Ireland.
(MB/SP)
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